Are there any?

My Mallory MaxFire went south a few months ago. Wall art now . So I've been searching around for another programmable ignition. Mallory is defunct. Crane doesn't appear to make them anymore. The only other major brand I can find that has one is MSD, p/n 6530. I'm open to opinions on the MSD unit or any other ones that are readily available for the same price point as the MSD, ~$500. I guess I could make one, seen some guys on web who have done them, but I like it easy in my senior years. Any suggestions, reviews, comments are welcome.

 

I have the Daytona Sensors CD1. Both guys I know that have dyno’s swear by them. One of the guys that originally built the Crane box. Great software and easy to use. I am using it with a Crane optical no advance distributor. Great combo. Google the comparison of the internals of the CD1 compared to MSD. Love mine. No MSD for me.

http://www.daytona-sensors.com/cd-1-...n-systems.html

Nice comparison here.

http://www.4secondsflat.com/CD1-MSD-...Comparison.htm

 

I remember seeing this a while back. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

 

I have the 6530 MSD unit for the past 5 years (GM ZZ383 Engine).

I found this is easy to program but uses old PC (serial port) connection to the laptop. You need a serial to usb adapters. I have the programing unit wired into the glove box so when I need to
program I just open the glove box and connect to my laptop while staying inside the car.

But make sure the programmable unit has both , Centrifugal advance (RPM) curve and a Vacuum advance curve. Most of the racing units may only have RPM curves.

I connected a MAP Sensor (factory GM Map sensor) with the output connected to the MSD Unit. So the MSD unit supports both advance curves.

Now the MSD unit is a retard curve. Meaning how much advance do you retard for a given RPM or Vacuum reading.

To use the MSD unit you need the following.

1. Locked down distributor or any unit with no advance mechanics at all.
2. Map sensor for Vacuum advance curve
3. Laptop and a serial to usb adapter.

Also you will need to deal with rotor phasing. watch this.

Here is what the retard curve look like on the laptop.


In this example @ 3200 RPM the module will retard the ignition by 5.8 degrees. So If the distributor with 0 degree retard = 36 degrees the ignition module timing will be 36-5.8 = 31.2 degrees.

So at 1000 RPM ~ 15 degrees retard = 36-15 = 21 degrees. The vacuum curves works the same way. It adds addition retard but based on engine vacuum.

So when you go to the 1/4 drag strip you can adjust the curve to get the best MPH / TOP Speed after each run.

The unit is very easy to program and get the most out of you engine without turning a wrench.

 

I didn't realize the 6530 could be adapted to use a programmable vacuum advance curve. Thanks for all the info. JBPower Centre has these on sale right now for a decent price which is cheaper than the US even with the $ rate differential.

 

Here is the install and manual for the unit.
https://documents.holley.com/6530.pdf